Composite article and element therefor



July 25, 1944.

c. E. SLAUGHTER 2,354,485 COMPOSITE AHTiCLE AND ELEMENT THEREFOR Filed Nov..-2, 1942 t i s 2 She ets-Sheet 1 y 5, 4- c. E. SLAUGHTER COMPOSITE ARTICLE AND ELEMENT THEREFOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 2, 1942 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COMPOSITE ARTICLE AND ELEMENT THEREFOR Charles E. Slaughter, New OanaamOonia, assignor to Extruded Plastics, Inc., Norwalk, Com, a corporation olconnecticnt Application November 2, 1932, Serial No. 464,308

-' 8 Claims. (or. 20-05) This invention relates to composite articles built up from elements or sections and particularly to extruded plastic strips adapted to be utilized in the production of composite articles as well as to methods of producing such strips and their assembly into articles.

Among the objects of the present invention is the production of extruded plastic strips particularly of synthetic resinous material which adapt themselves to assembly in the formation of com- 10 posite articles.

Other objects include the articles produced by.

assembly of such extruded synthetic strips.

Still further objects and advantages of the present invention will appear from the more detailed description set forth below, it being understood, however, that this more detailed description is given by way of illustration and ex planation only, and not by way of limitation,

since various changes therein may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention.

In connection with that more detailed description, there is shown in the accompanying draw ings, in

Figure 1, a cross-section through an extruded plastic strip produced in accordance with the present invention; in

Figure 2, a modified form of extrudedplastic strip of the present invention; in

Figure 3, a composite sheet built up by assembly of a number of the strips shown in Figure 1;

Figure 4, a section through the composite article of Figure 3; in v Figure 5, a cross-sectional fragmentary detail of the joint formed between assembled strips in accordance with the present invention; in

Figure 6, an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail further illustrating the joint formed between successive strips of the present invention; in

Figure 7, a composite article in the form of a helical convolution produced from extruded plastic strips of the present invention; in

Figure 8, an end view of the article of Figure 7 Figure ,9, an enlarged fragmentary cross-sectional detail on the line 8--9 of Figure '7; in

Figure 10, a further form of composite articles produced'in accordance with the presentinvention'; in

Figure 10, a cross -section -through an ex- {1 truded edging strip;in

Figure '11, a transverse section through the article of Figure 10; in

Figure 12, a further form of composite article produced with the present invention; and in Figure 13, a plan view of the article of Figure 12.

In accordance with the present invention, extruded plastic strips particularly of synthetic resinous material are utilized in the production of composite articles therefrom, sucharticles being built up by the utilization of one or more of such extruded plastic, strips, the strips being extruded in forms which adapt themselves to utilization in the production of such composite articles.

The extruded plastic strip desirably takes the form of a continuous extruded element which can be produced by extrusion in any length strip desired, the edges of such extruded strip being provided with means for enabling the strips to be assembled together or for enabling a single strip to be wound upon itself to produce a convolution, with adjacent edges of the convolution interconnected, For these purposes the extruded strip is provided on one edge with a barb or a lateral movement of the harbor bead within the groove or channel is possible, provision being made not only against removal or displacement of the barb or bead from the channel or groove once the assembly has been made, but any force tending to separate the elements, actually serves to force the parts'into closer union.

Illustrating the invention, an extruded continuous synthetic resinous or other plastic strip may be produced with a cross-section as shown in Figure 1, in which the body portion I carries the beador barbed portion 2 along one edge thereof and the grooved or channel portion 3 along the other edge thereof. The bead 2 is desirably barb-shaped in cross-section having the extensions 4, 4 to produce the barb-shaped head or head '2, each barb desirably being in the nature of a crane hook, forpurposes hereinafter set forth. A channel or groved portion 3 is formed by wall portions 5, 5 extending from the body portion l and may be arcuate as illustrated in Figure 1, to produce the channel or groove Sbetween such wall, portions. .The wall porticns 5, 5 are desirably provided with projections adapted to engage against the barb-shaped portions 4, 4 of the bead 2 and for such purpose the wall portions may be formed with reentrant edges 1,1 of desirably hook-shaped contour. I

A continuous extruded synthetic resinous strip of the character shown in Figure 1 may be, cut to the desired length and then assembled as shown in Figures 3 and 4 to produce a compos ite flat sheet by the insertion oi successive barbs into corresponding grooves, the article in Figure 3 showing three such strip elements assembled together to form a relatively flat sheet, the elements of which, however, are capable of some movement with respect one to the other. Thus three strip portions I, I, I are assembled by-the barbs 2, I. being inserted intothe respectivechannel portions 3, 3, within which they are retained by the reentrant edges or projections on the'walls of the channel portions; Such composite sheets may be built up from extruded strips of the same or diflerent colors or any combination of colors or patterns of materials may be utilized, particularly when such sheets are used for shades or lighting fixtures.- 5

When used in connection with lighting fixtures, the body portions may be providedwith iacets for increasing the light diflusion or. for

. be readily produced from a single length oiexother ornamental purposes or eflects. shown in Figure 2 the body portion I carries longitudiit is possible to utilize a single strip for the production of an article where the strip has a structure oi the character shown in Figure 1. For

these purposes it is possible to insert .the bead or barb or a strip into the groove or channel 01 the mine strip and build up a convoluted body of the character shown in Figure 7. As illustrated there. I

a single strip III is helically convolutedon itself in the manner just described by the barb 2 of the strip I0 being held in position in the groove tor the same strip in. 'Any length tube of'this character can be produced from an extruded synthetic resinous strip depending on the length of strip utilized for such purpose. A cylindrical article as illustrated in Figures '1 and a may thus truded synthetic resinous strip and such cylin der may be utilized for a variety of purposes as for the outside covering on thermos type bottles, or as a covering on rods, tubes, etc. Lamp stands may be produced from such a cylindrical article by application of the necessary base and lighting fixtures to such a cylinder. 01- the ends of such a cylinder may be closed by caps d used as a container. Here again the strip utilized may be produced from any desired suitable plastic materialin any color or efiect known in the ornar'nentation of plastic materials to produce articles I oi very pleasing character and wide utility.

all

1 Instead 01 forming a substantially flat sheetby the assembly or a number of strips as illustrated in Figure '3, these strips may be utilized to produce a cylindrical article because of the {literal movement possible between successive strips-as illustrated in Figures 5 and 6 and explained above. As shown in Figures 10 and 1 1;

with the'strip lb having the barb portioh 2, the latter being seated within the groove and being prevented from removal therefrom by the reen-. f trant hook-shaped edges I. Due to the relative sizes of the barb portion 2 and the groove within the channel portion 3; the parts are not rigidly locked together but lateral movement is possible between them since the barbed portion of the bead 2 may rest against the joint formed between the reentrant edge I and theadjacent wall portion 5 on which Joint the str p lb may fulcrum for movement as. shown in Figure 6. Despite such permissible lateral movement oi one stripwith respect to the other, the reentranffedges I,

I prevent'the withdrawal'of the strip" lb from its interlocking connection with the strip la. It

will be apparent that if any attempt is time to pull the elements apart, the-hook-shap'ed edges I, I will lock against the barbs I. 4 so that force exerted inthis way will unite the elements more securely.

If after assembly of a number of strips to produce a. composite article as set forth alioverit is desired to eliminate any permissible lateral move-v ment between the elements;v the joint may be sealed against such movement by t e application of a. solvent for the particular plastic used,

which solvent will serve to cement together the materials of the adjacent strips and u on evaporation o'! the solvent will leave a substantially rigid joint incapable of the movement referred to above. Or heat may be utilized for the same purpose where a thermoplastic materi'ai has been employed in the production of the plastic strip.

In the composite articlesv referred to above.

's s m y has carried olitrby utilization or a series of strips and interlocking each strip with its successor in the manner described. However,

a number of lengths of such extruded strips are assembled with successive headed and grooved in interlocking relation to produce "a cylindrical body I! made up-oi the individual strip elements l3, it, having the beaded portions ll, ll, in interlocking relation with the grooved iii-channel portions l5, l5. Such a cylindrical article may be produced in any size desired either in diameter or in length. The edges of an oi these articles may be covered by a coveringslich as II which may comprise-merely a U-shaped extruded plastic strip as shown in Figure 10a either made of the same type 0! material as that of the strip It or of a dissimilar material either of the same or a diilerent color. Such a sealing element may also be utilized on flat sheets of the character of Figure 3, in which eventit Ywill be a straight continuous U-shaped element,

Or it may be of annular character forcove'ri'ng the edge 0! a composite cylinder 01' the character illustrated in Figures 10 and 11. b Figures 12 and 13 illustrate a-further'type of composite article which can be produced in ace cordance with the present inventiomthe illustrating a lamp shade which is produced mm extruded strips of limited length which are trapezoidal in-shape, the side edges of such trapezoid carrying r sp vely the barb and gr ove portions illustrated above so that they may be successively assembled in a manner similar to- ;that of Figures 3' and-10. Thus the trapezoidal 'Jsh'e'ets l1, I! are provided with a beaded portion II on one edge thereof and a groovev portion II on the other, the beaded and grooved portions being similar to the beaded and grooved portions alongthe edges of the strip of Figure 1. A miniber oi such trapezoidal sheets may be assembled by insertion of the beaded portions within .the gr oved portions of the adjacent sheets to duce the composite lamp shade illustrated in Figures '12 and 13. Here again the edges of such composite articles may be sealed by means of the edging II in the form of a U-shaped strip analo ous to that shown in Figure a, successive portions of such edging of a length equal to the corresponding portion oi the trapezoid atthat point being applied to each of the sheets, or a continuous length of U-shaped edging material edge and grooved or channeled edge is provided for the purpom set forth. Such extruded strips may be produced to harmonize with particular surroundings both from the standpoint of their contour as well as color. Since they are made fromsynthetic plastics, the color may be chosen cessive strips may be assembled together with alternate beads and grooves in interlocking re- .lation to provide a composite sheet made up of a number of strip elements with the acute angular as desired. The strips may be flat, curved, ribmaterials such as polymerized vinyl acetate, and

other resinous compositions that desirably may fie extruded in continuous lengths including vinyl resins or nylon resins.

Having thus set forth my invention, I claim:

1. A continuous strip having a bead along one edge and a groove along the other, said groove being of a size to receive the bead but'large enough to permit lateral movement of the bead within the groove, the walls defining the groove having projections extending backwardly at an acute angle into and .within the groove to retain the head in the groove, the bead having a barb shaped'projection adapted to interlock with the projections on the walls of the groove'the barb shaped projection on the bead and the wall projections in the. groove each having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle whereby a bead of a strip may be inserted into a roove of a strip to form a composite article with projections of the bead and groove adapted to engage together and to unite'the strips more securely when force is applied in a transverse direction tending to pull them apart.

3. A continuous extruded plastic strip having a bead along one edge and a groove along the other, said groove being of a size to receive the head but large enough to permit lateral movement of the bead within the groove, the walls defining the groove having intumed projecting.

edges extending backwardly at an acute angle into and within the groove spaced apart a lesser distance than the maximum width of the groove 'to retain the bead in the groove, the bead having a bash shaped projection adapted to interlock with the projections on the walls of the groove the barb shaped projection on the bead and the wall projections in the groove each having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle whereby the bead of a strip may be inserted into the groove of a strip to form a composite article, with the acute angular projections of the bead and groove adapted to engage together and to unit the strips more securely when force is applied in a transverse direction tending to pull them apart.

4. A flexible sheet made up of a number of strip elements each strip element having a bead along one edge barbed-shaped in cross-section and a groove along the opposite edge oval-shaped in cross-section, the walls forming the groove having projections extending backwardly at an acute angle into and within the groove to interl'ock with the barb on the bead the barb shaped projection on the bead and the wall projections 40 in the groove each having lateral edges defined the acute angular projections of the bead and I groove adapted to engage together and to unite the'strips more securely when force is applied in a transverse '2. A continuous extruded plastic strip having a barb-shaped bead along one edge and. a groove along the other, said'groove being of a size to receive the bead but large enough to permit lateral movement of the bead within the groove, the walls defining the groove having acutely reentrant hook-shaped edges to retain the bead in the groove, the bead having a barb shaped projection adapted tainterlock with the projections on the walls of the groove the barb shaped projection on the bead and the wall projections in the groove each having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle whereby sucy direction tending to pull them apart.

by surfaces meeting at an acute angle with successive beads inserted into adjacent grooves with the acute angular projections of the bead and groove adapted to engage together and to unite the strips more securely when force is applied wall projections in the groove each having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle the barbed edge of one strip being held within the groove of the adjacent strip with the acute angular projections of the bead and groove adapted to engage together and to unite the strips more securely when force is applied in. a transverse direction tending to pull them apart.

6. A continuous extruded synthetic resinous strip having a body portion and wall portions extending from one side of the body portion to form a channel between the wall portions, each wall portion having a flange projecting backwardly and inwardly at an acute angle toward the channel each flange having lateral edgesde lined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle.

7. In combination, a continuous extruded synthetic resinous strip having a body portion and wall portions extending from one side of the body portion to form a channel between thewall portions, each wall portion having a flange projectbackwardly and inwardly at an acute angle toward the channel each flange having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle, and a continuous elongated insert carried by said strip, said insert having a body norcan provided with a barb adapted to fit loosely within the channel of the strip but secured against removal therefrom by the flanges on the walls of the strip, the bath having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at an acute angle an edge of the barbed portion of the insert being adapted to engage against the joint formed between the flange and the adjacent wall of the strip on which joint the insert may fulcrum for movement, the insert having a stem extending from the body portion of the insert through the channel of the strip externally thereto with the acute angular edges of the bead andjahe acute angular flanges adapted to engage together and go to unite the strips more securely when force is applied in a transverse direction tending to pull them apart.

8. In combination, a strip having a groove along an edge thereof the walls of the groove having projections extending backward-1y at .an acute angle into and within the groove, and a second strip having a bead along an edge thereof seated in thegroove of the iirst strip, the head 10 having a barb shaped projection adapted to interlock with the projections on the walls of the groove, the barb shaped projection on the bead and the wall projections in the groove each having lateral edges defined by surfaces meeting at is an acute angle whereby the acute angular pro- Jections of the bead andgroove are adapted to engage together and to unite the strips more securely when force is applied in a transverse direction tending to pull them apart.

CHARLES E. SLAUGHTER. 

